What is the equation for error function in heat transfer?

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The error function, denoted as erf(x), is defined mathematically as erf(x) = (2 / sqrt(π)) ∫0..x e^(-t²) dt. It is primarily used in heat transfer and statistics, particularly as the integral of a Gaussian distribution. The error function enhances the expressive power of closed forms by allowing the representation of many nonelementary functions. It frequently appears in the solutions to differential equations, making it a valuable tool in various mathematical applications. Understanding the error function is essential for tackling problems in heat transfer and related fields.
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In heat transfer, some formulae are expressed in error function. what is it ?

How do we get the equation for error function ?[?]
 
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Isn't the error function e -x 2 ? Thats all I know...
 
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Originally posted by On Radioactive Waves
Isn't the error function e -x 2 ? Thats all I know...
I've heard it's called imaginary error function in full.
 
Almost... erf(x) is:

erf(x) = (2 / sqrt(π)) ∫0..x e-x2 dx

It's immediate use is that it's the integral of a gaussian distribution, so it's directly applicable to statistical problems.

More generally, I understand that a lot of nonelementary functions can be expressed in terms of combinations of elementary functions and error functions, so erf expands the expressive power of closed forms.
 
It comes up when solving some differential equations, and it is thus good to have tabulated.
 
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